FAWNL Division One North
Leeds United Women 5 (Bartup 4', 19', 85', Danby 75', Brown 89')
FC United of Manchester Women 0
Leeds: Wattam (GK), Bass, Hamill (c), Hannon, Smart, Smith (Hunter 70), K Hunt (Underdown 76), Danby, Freibach (Williams 76), Bartup, R Hunt (Brown 63), Subs not used: Joyce
FC United: Ainsworth (GK), Mather, Donelan (Rigby 78), Kennerley, Smith, O’Gara, A Hunt, Davies, Cunliffe (Davenport 60) (Roe 83), Chambers, Hartley: Subs not used: Baxter
A five star performance from Leeds United Women saw the Whites climb back to the summit of the table against FC United of Manchester on Sunday afternoon.
Dan O’Hearne’s side were looking to bounce back from their derby disappointment and started on the attack with top scorer Laura Bartup firing just wide after two minutes.
She made no mistake two minutes later though, sliding in her eighth goal of the campaign to set Leeds on their way to another important three points.
Kate O’Gara then forced Georgia Wattam into a save from 25 yards out, before Leeds took over.
Bartup made it two with a brilliant finish, by latching on to a superb through ball from Rebekah Bass on 19 minutes.
Leeds had chances to make it three, first through Bartup again who fired wide and then Cath Hamill headed straight at the keeper from a corner.
Hannah Freibach then had a couple of chances either side of a Rebecca Hunt effort which was brilliantly clawed out by Ainsworth, as Leeds went into the dressing rooms with a fully deserved two-nil lead, which could have been more.
HALF TIME: Leeds United Women 2-0 FC United of Manchester Women
The visitors were looking to come out of the blocks in the second period and Kaylea Cunliffe headed just wide just five minutes after the restart.
In the build up to today’s clash, Whites manager O’Hearne had asked his side to be more clinical, and with the amount of chances they were creating, goal difference was likely to be an important factor come full time towards the top of the division.
Midfielder Kathryn Smith saw her close range effort turned away by Ainsworth before Kirsty Chambers shot wide for FC United in.
After that it was one way traffic, with Bartup being denied her hat trick following a fine save from Ainsworth.
Substitute Abbie Brown was then frustrated by the visiting keeper before Sarah Danby put the game to bed slotting in number three, 15 minutes from time, with a composed finish into the back of the net.
Bartup then completed her second hat-trick of the season, firing in past Ainsworth when running in on goal. The striker composed herself before picking her spot, and placing it into the net.
Brown hit the post, but wasn’t to be denied shortly after, as Leeds made it five. A minute from time the second-half-substitute did get on the scoresheet this time when she fired in from 12 yards out.
That goal was key, as it confirmed the Whites would end the weekend top of the table, on goals scored in the league.
FULL TIME: Leeds United Women 5-0 FC United of Manchester Women
Venue: Global Autocare Stadium:
Referee: M. Gilvary
